RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The Hardrocker volleyball team opens its home schedule with a pair of matches on Friday and Saturday.
GAME INFORMATION
Adams State
Date/Time: Sept. 22 / 7:00 p.m. MT
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: Adams State leads 6-3.
Streak: Adams State Won 1
Series at South Dakota Mines: Tied 2-2.
Streak at South Dakota Mines: South Dakota Mines Won 2
Last Meeting: Adams State won in Alamosa, 3-0 (10/22/2022).
Watch Live: RMAC Network | www.rmacsports.com/sdmines
CSU Pueblo
Date/Time: Sept. 23 / 3:00 p.m. MT
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: CSU Pueblo leads 8-1.
Streak: South Dakota Mines Won 1
Series at South Dakota Mines: CSU Pueblo leads 2-1.
Streak at South Dakota Mines: South Dakota Mines Won 1
Last Meeting: South Dakota Mines won in Rapid City, 3-0 (10/28/2022).
Watch Live: RMAC Network |
www.rmacsports.com/sdmines
HIGH PERCENTAGE HITTER
Alessandra Meoni has acclimated to a new level quickly after spending the past two years at Western Nebraska Community College. Meoni is sixth in the RMAC in kills, third in kills per set, and ninth in hitting percentage.
STEPPING UP AS A SOPHOMORE
After taking a year as a freshman to mostly learn behind
Anna Thomas and get some time on the court,
Hannah Benes has stepped up as a sophomore, being named captain and being a weapon in multiple areas. Benes leads the RMAC in service aces with 25 and is second in service aces per set with .76 in addition to being second in the RMAC in digs and digs per set.
RISING ABOVE THE NET
Annelise Larson stepped up last weekend in the first two matches in RMAC play, especially Friday night where she recorded six blocks to go along with five kills on a hitting percentage of .333. Larson is sixth in the RMAC with .92 blocks per set.
DEFENSE FIRST
As a team, the Hardrockers have been strong from the defensive side of the net, as they have the most digs in the RMAC and lead by around 2 digs per set. In addition, they are third in opponent hitting percentage, allowing opponents to hit .171 percent, and are fifth in blocks.
ACCLIMATING TO RMAC PLAY
The RMAC is one of the toughest conferences in the country at the NCAA Division II level and the Hardrockers youth saw that in action on the road in their first two matches last weekend, falling 3-0 to UCCS and #16 Regis. The Hardrockers hope to get back on track this weekend.
SCOUTING ADAMS STATE
Adams State was selected 10th in the RMAC preseason poll but has started slowly, getting just 2 wins in their 10 matches, in part due to a tough schedule, including playing the #1 team in the country at the time in West Texas A&M. They were able to split in the opening weekend of RMAC play, defeating New Mexico Highlands and losing to CSU Pueblo.
The top three hitters from Adams State's squad in 2022, return and are three of the leaders again in 2023 in Cindy Garcia, Anna Huggins, and Natalie Gallegos.
Madeleine Benally returns as a setter and is joined by Remi Vargas from Garden City Community College and most recently Oklahoma Panhandle State.
Despite the slow start, Adams State has a strong defensive presence, as they are third in the RMAC in blocks per set with 2.03.
SCOUTING CSU PUEBLO
CSU Pueblo was selected fifth in the RMAC preseason play, but got off to a slow 1-7 start, before a great start to RMAC play last weekend, defeating New Mexico Highlands on the road and Adams State at home in straight sets.
Payton Van Veen and Sadie Scoville both return as sophomores who led the Thunderwolves in kills in 2022 and are currently their leaders with 121 and 102 kills respectively.
Those two are multi-talented as Scoville leads them with 100 digs, averaging 2.7 per set, while Van Veeen is one of their leading defensive players, along with Golden Finch who each have 20 blocks.
In their home opener against Adams State, CSU Pueblo was dominant, hitting.400, led by Payton Van Veen hitting .625 and recording 10 kills.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following this week, the Hardrockers head to Chadron State to play in the RMAC regional pod, facing off with Chadron State and Black Hills State in Nebraska on Thursday, Sept. 28, and Friday, Sept. 29.
About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 13 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.
